Lord Nadaka proved to be a gracious host, despite his tendency toward pomposity. He grandiosely referred to his home as Nadaka Castle, even though it was, in actuality, a large manor house and not a castle at all.
Jelena had delivered messages to Nadaka Castle before; when she rode through the gate, tired and dusty from the road, a stable boy took Willow while one of the house servants ushered her into the main room.
Lord Nadaka recognized her immediately and seemed quite taken with the fact that his liege lord had chosen to spend the night on his estate. Still unaware of her changed status, he nonetheless kindly offered to let her await the arrival of the rest of the family in the main room, and gratefully, Jelena accepted. A serving girl brought in bread, cheese, ripe red apples, and beer; munching contentedly, Jelena settled down on a bench to wait.
The warm, close air of the room, combined with a full stomach, worked its magic, and soon, Jelena found it impossible to keep her eyes open. Using her saddlebag as a pillow, she stretched out on the bench and fell quickly into sleep.
She awoke to the sound of voices. Sen and Nadaka came bustling through the front door, Ashinji and Sadaiyo close at their heels.
“Ai, there you are!” Ashinji came over and planted a firm kiss upon her lips. Jelena saw Lord Nadaka’s eyes widen in surprise.
Apparently, so did Sen. “Nadaka, I see you’ve shown my new daughter-in-law your fine hospitality already…I thank you.”
“My lord…I…I thought the girl was just your messenger,” Nadaka stammered, his round face flushing crimson. “Had I known…”
“Easy, my friend,” Sen replied jovially. “I meant no reproach. Jelena and my son Ashinji here, were just married. She is an exceptionally modest girl, so I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you.” Nadaka looked as if a large stone had just been rolled off his chest.
“Poor Nadaka,” Ashinji whispered. “Why didn’t you say something to him?” He glowered at her in mock anger.
Jelena shrugged. “I don’t know. I figured he’d find out in due time…Besides, the look on his face was worth the wait!”
“Modest, huh! You’re wicked, that’s what you are!” Ashinji smiled.
That evening, the two families dined on the best fare Nadaka Castle could provide, which Jelena found to be fine, indeed. She could see the intense curiosity about her in the faces of Lord Nadaka and his family, but they were all much too polite to ask any direct questions, other than those concerning the details of the wedding.
After the meal, Nadaka’s six daughters staged a Bal Oku recital for the entertainment of their guests. Bal Oku-an ancient form of musical theater revered as high art among the elven people-employed highly stylized singing and dance to tell stories, usually tales from elven mythology. The slow, ponderous rhythms and droning quality of the music were not to Jelena’s taste; when the last chord shivered into silence, she felt an intense sense of relief.
“That was absolutely dreadful,” Ashinji whispered into her ear. She had to fight hard not to giggle as she clapped politely along with everyone else.
After the girls had collected their instruments and filed out of the room, Sen, stifling a yawn behind his hand, said, “Ai, Nadaka, it’s been a long day. It’s time my family and I were abed. We’ve got another long stretch of road ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Of course, Lord Sen,” Nadaka replied, rising quickly to his feet. His wife promptly followed suit. “Lady Nadaka and I are honored to give up our own sleeping quarters to you and your family. Your guards and servants are welcome to bunk down here in the main room, or out in the yard, if any would prefer to sleep under the stars.”
“Most generous of you, Nadaka. My thanks.” Sen inclined his head.
Jelena sighed inwardly.
I would much rather sleep outdoors on the hard ground than in the same room with Sadaiyo, she thought , but I can’t ask Ashi to give up the comfort of a soft bed, not after he’s spent all day in the saddle.
Lord and Lady Nadaka’s bedroom proved to be quite large, with plenty of free space in which to spread out. Thick, well-cushioned mats covered the floor, and Nadaka had provided more than enough bedding to make reasonably comfortable arrangements. Sen and Amara took the large bed and everyone else, including the twins, staked out floor space. The two girls chattered like bright little birds in a special language known only to themselves as they happily made their pallets.
Just before he retired, Nadaka poked his head in and informed them that the family’s bath house was at the disposal of anyone who wished to use it, either tonight or tomorrow morning. With a cheery good night, he left them to themselves.
Jelena assembled a cozy pile of blankets and pillows in the corner farthest from the bed, and after stripping down to her undertunic, she flopped onto the makeshift pallet with a grateful sigh.
Why am I so tired? It’s not as if I haven’t spent hours in the saddle before…I hope I’m not coming down with a fever.
Not even Sadaiyo’s close proximity could keep sleep at bay. She drifted off to the soft murmur of conversation between Sen and his two sons.
Later, she awoke to find Ashinji settled beside her, sound asleep. She lay still and listened to the sounds of the night: Lord Sen snoring softly from the bed, crickets chirping outside the open window, and from the opposite corner, a lot of rustling.
At first, she didn’t recognize what her ears heard until a sigh and a soft moan made it all too clear. The last thing Jelena wanted to be privy to was Sadaiyo and Misune’s lovemaking.
Gods…must I listen to this?
Misune let out a little gasp and Jelena buried her head beneath the covers. Sen snored on, oblivious. Ashinji stirred but did not wake. The sound of the lovers’ bodies moving together grew more frenzied.
Hurry up and finish, for the gods’ sake!
The thought of Sadaiyo so close to her while in the throes of sexual passion filled her with disgust. She wondered how Misune would feel knowing that her husband had attempted to rape the woman his brother loved, purely out of spite.
She’d be really angry, but only because her husband would consider dirtying himself by having me, Jelena thought bitterly.
At last, the thrashing stopped. Jelena breathed a sigh of relief and emerged from her refuge. She tried to relax and clear her mind, but the peace of her night had been shattered, and now she feared that sleep would elude her.
She lay staring at the ceiling, wide awake and a little queasy. The light from the night lamp cast faint, dancing shadows on the wood beams above her head. As she watched, the shadows seemed to grow darker and then coalesce into the vague shape of a face.
At first, she thought her eyes were deceiving her. She blinked a few times, but the face remained; in fact, it seemed even more distinct. She could now identify a dark smudge of a mouth, the suggestion of a long, straight nose, and two black holes where the eyes would be.
I should be afraid, she thought, but for some reason, she felt more curious than fearful, perhaps because Ashinji lay beside her.
Or maybe because what I’m seeing is not really there.
The face began to fade almost as quickly as it had formed until nothing remained but the flickering shadows created by the night lamp. Jelena blinked again, already convinced she had imagined the whole thing. She closed her eyes and willed herself to relax, and soon, Ashinji’s rhythmic breathing lulled her back to sleep.
Sen rousted them all just before sunrise. After everyone had a quick turn in Nadaka’s bath house, they sat down to a light breakfast in the main room with the Kerala staff. Three of Nadaka’s serving women circulated among the tables, pouring tea.